Emily Johnson
Puffballs are a unique type of fungus that are spherical and often ball-shaped, sometimes with a small stem. They reproduce by releasing spores, but unlike other mushrooms, they do not have gills, caps, or stems. Instead, their spores are produced internally in a spheroidal fruit body called a gasterothecium. When the spores are mature, they form a mass called a gleba in the centre of the fruit body, which is often a distinctive colour and texture. Puffballs are edible if picked when young and immature, but can cause an upset stomach when mature. They are often sought after by novice foragers due to their distinctive appearance and edibility.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Lycoperdon |
| Common types | Common Puffball, Stump Puffball, Meadow Puffball, Giant Puffball |
| Shape | Round, ball-shaped |
| Size | Smaller than a marble to larger than a soccer ball or beach ball |
| Colour | White, turning brown as they age |
| Texture | Spongy, soft |
| Spores | Trillions, antibacterial, antifungal, antimicrobial |
| Season | Summer, between July and September |
| Edibility | Only young puffballs are edible |
| False puffballs | Scleroderma, Hymenogastrales, Enteridium lycoperdon, Stalked puffballs |
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What You'll Learn
Puffballs are a unique type of fungus
Puffballs are a rather unique type of fungus. They don't have the typical cap and stem you'd expect from a mushroom, and they look quite different from other mushrooms. Puffballs are a group of mushrooms that includes several different species. They are spherical, ranging in size from smaller than a marble to larger than a soccer ball or even a beach ball. The giant puffball, for example, can reach a foot or more in diameter, making it hard to mistake for any other fungus.
Puffballs are easily identifiable and suitable for novice foragers. They are round, often almost ball-shaped, sometimes with a little stem, sometimes without. They reproduce from spores like most mushrooms, but they have no gills and no pores to shed their tiny fungal seeds. Instead, mature specimens burst open to release millions of spores in puffy clouds.
To identify if a puffball is edible, simply cut it in two. Inside, you should find an entirely white interior, with no yellow, brown, grey, or black inside. These colours indicate either mature or maturing puffballs, or in the case of those with a black centre, the toxic Earthball. The inside should be a little spongy to the touch and not at all hard. There should also be a uniform texture with no noticeable outer skin.
Puffballs were traditionally used in Tibet for making ink by burning them, grinding the ash, putting them in water, and adding glue liquid and "a nye shing ma decoction". This process, when pressed for a long time, made a black substance that was used as ink. They were also used by Native tribes for their medicinal purposes, to help heal sores and burns and to stop wounds from bleeding.
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They reproduce by releasing spores
Puffballs are a unique type of fungus, characterised by their ball-shaped fruit body. They reproduce by releasing spores. When the fungus matures, it bursts on contact or impact, releasing a cloud of dust-like spores into the surrounding area. This release of spores can also be triggered by a raindrop, according to the National Park Service.
The spores are produced internally in a spheroidal fruit body called a gasterothecium. As the spores mature, they form a mass called a gleba in the centre of the fruit body. The basidiocarp remains closed until after the spores have been released from the basidia. The gleba is initially white, but as the puffball matures, it can turn yellow or green.
The Giant Puffball, for example, produces trillions of spores. If every spore were to grow into a new puffball, the mushrooms would cover the entire surface of the Earth and far beyond. However, only a tiny fraction of spores develop into mushrooms. The spores have antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties, and they have been used medicinally by Native tribes to heal sores and burns and to stop wounds from bleeding.
Puffballs are often sought after by foragers in their immature, non-sporing state as they can be safely consumed. Once they start to mature, they can cause gastric upset and are no longer suitable for consumption. To determine if a puffball is edible, it should be cut in half to reveal a pure white, uniform, and spongy interior.
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Puffballs are edible if picked young enough
Puffballs are a type of fungus with a ball-shaped fruit body that, when mature, bursts on impact, releasing a cloud of dust-like spores. They are distinguished from other mushrooms by their lack of a stem, cap, or external gills. The two most common puffballs in the UK are the Common Puffball and the Stump Puffball, which are found in woodlands. The Meadow Puffball and the Giant Puffball are usually found on grassland.
The Giant Puffball, which can grow to impressive sizes, is a popular variety for foragers due to its edibility and ease of identification. It is important to cook Giant Puffballs soon after harvesting, as they do not keep well. When preparing a Giant Puffball, it is recommended to slice it in half and check that the interior is white throughout. The outer layer can then be peeled off, and the puffball sliced and cooked.
Overall, puffballs can be a good option for novice foragers as they are easy to identify and edible when young, but it is crucial to follow safety guidelines to avoid consuming toxic mushrooms.
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There are several puffball species
Puffballs are a group of mushrooms that includes several different species. They are a type of fungus featuring a ball-shaped fruit body that bursts on contact or impact when mature, releasing a cloud of dust-like spores into the surrounding area. Puffballs belong to the division Basidiomycota and encompass several genera, including Calvatia, Calbovista, and Lycoperdon.
The two most common Lycoperdon or puffballs found in the UK are the aptly named Common Puffball (Lycoperdon perlatum) and the Stump Puffball (Lycoperdon pyriforme). The Common Puffball is a small, white mushroom with a noticeable stalk and a rounded head. The Stump Puffball, as the name suggests, is often found on stumps in woodlands.
The Meadow Puffball and the Giant Puffball are usually found on grassland. The Giant Puffball, or Calvatia gigantea, is a well-known species that can reach a foot or more in diameter. It is difficult to mistake it for any other fungus due to its size. It produces trillions of spores, which, if they all grew into new puffballs, would create a mass of mushrooms 800 times the volume of the entire planet!
There are also false puffballs that look similar to true puffballs, but these are inedible and often tough and bitter to taste. False puffballs are hard and brittle, and examples include Hymenogastrales and Enteridium lycoperdon, a slime mold.
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Puffballs have medicinal properties
Puffballs are a type of fungus featuring a ball-shaped fruit body that bursts upon maturity, releasing a cloud of dust-like spores. They are edible mushrooms that are easily identified by following a few simple rules. They are also known by their scientific name, Lycoperdon, which translates to 'wolf fart', describing the clouds of smoke-like spores that burst out of the mature fungi.
Puffballs have been used for various purposes throughout history, such as making ink in Tibet and anesthetizing honey bees in rural America. Additionally, they have been explored for their potential medicinal properties, particularly in Native American and Mongolian medicine.
Medicinal Properties of Puffballs
Native Americans traditionally used the spores of the giant puffball (Calvatia gigantea) to prevent bleeding and promote wound healing. Similarly, Mongolian medicine employs a gel containing the active substance calvacin, derived from the giant puffball, for treating wounds and burns. In vitro studies have also indicated that calvacin exhibits antitumor properties, suggesting its potential as an anticancer drug. However, it is important to note that the giant puffball should not be administered for medicinal purposes without seeking professional medical advice.
The giant puffball is also being studied for its potential to cause programmed cell death in cancer cells and prevent their proliferation by stopping the cell cycle. Calvacin, a bioactive molecule isolated from the giant puffball, has been found to inhibit cancer cell growth in various animal models. However, one limitation is the small quantity of calvacin present in the mushroom, and prolonged administration has induced allergic reactions in some animals.
While puffballs have potential medicinal benefits, it is crucial to exercise caution. Always seek professional medical advice before consuming or using puffballs for medicinal purposes. Additionally, ensure proper identification to avoid toxic look-alikes, such as young destroying angel and death cap mushrooms.
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Frequently asked questions
Puffballs are a group of mushrooms that includes several different species. They are spherical and range in size from smaller than a marble to larger than a soccer ball.
Puffballs are unlike most other types of mushrooms since they don't have gills, caps, or stems. They are solid spheres of fungus that, when mature, burst on contact or impact, releasing a cloud of dust-like spores.
All true puffballs are edible if picked young enough. Young puffballs have undifferentiated white flesh within. However, once they start to mature, they can cause gastric upset and are best left alone.
To test if a puffball is edible, simply cut it in two. Inside you should find an entirely white interior, with no yellow, brown, grey, or black inside. The inside should be a little spongy to the touch and not at all hard.
Most puffball species grow in open areas or grassy spots in forests. Some species can also be found growing on fallen logs and decaying wood.
